Effects of land use and spatial processes in water and surface sediment of tropical reservoirs at local and regional scales

Abstract

The effects of land use and connectivity on the characteristics of aquatic ecosystems are thought to be scale-dependent. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between land use and reservoir characteristics at two spatial scales, after controlling for spatial processes. Water and surface sediment samples were collected from 31 sites (7 reservoirs) in the Paiva Castro and Piracicaba River basins (Cantareira System, São Paulo State, Brazil), during austral summer and winter. The dataset included 15 water quality variables and 6 surface sediment variables. Land use variables (natural areas, pasture, agriculture and urban areas) were obtained at two spatial scales (buffer and watershed) in each reservoir. Spatial variables were calculated using Moran's Eigenvectors Maps and Asymmetric Eigenvector Maps. The strengths of the relationships between land use and sediment variables were stronger than those between land use and water quality variables. The strengths of some of the relationships were scale-dependent. Finally, spatial processes, mostly hydrological connectivity, play an important role in water-sediment quality and should be considered in landscape management programs.